This year’s January sale at Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin

We’re back, baby.

Apparently.

A surge in spending on houses, cars and household goods coupled with growing employment has seen consumer sentiment hit levels not seen since the height of the boom, a survey has found.

Retail  sales volume rose by 3.7 per cent in 2014 while the value of the sales increased by 1.6 per cent indicating a significant upturn in activity. This upward trend has continued into 2015, with sales volume up by 6.6 per cent in the second quarter of this year compared with the same period last year..

Using data from multiple official sources, the report highlights the 40,000 houses sold in 2014 and 21,300 in the first half of 2015…..

Hmm.

Surge in consumer spending reported as recovery takes hold (Conor Pope, Irish Times)

Earlier: Repo Nation